December 22 2011, Chad Holloway

On Thursday, vegasinc.com reported that the Nevada Gaming Commission had approved regulations for intrastate online poker, becoming the first state in the United States to do so. The move sets the stage for the licensing of companies to offer online poker in Nevada, though play across state lines is prohibited.

The regulations passed by a unanimous vote and allow for companies currently licensed by the state to apply. Six companies have already filed applications: Cantor Gaming, Shuffle Master, International Game Technology, Bally’s Technology, South Point, and Caesars Entertainment.

As vegasinc.com reported: “The new regulations require applicants to prove their ability to maintain controls on player registration, prevent underage play and establish the location of players before being licensed. Regulations also address what information must be presented on their websites, record keeping, dispute resolution, fees and taxation and problem gambling notifications.”

Companies that are not currently licensed in the state of Nevada will be investigated per state regulations.

The regulations open the door for the state to officially accept applications, a move that was first announced more than a month ago.

“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Michael Lipparelli, chairman of the Gaming Control Board, said in November at the U.S. Online Gaming Law conference. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”

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